Amazon.comGumby, the little green plasticine boy from the toy-land world of Gumbasia, first burst onto TV screens on the Howdy Doody show in 1956. By 1957 the landmark children’s show had launched its own series of reality-bending adventures. Gumby could walk into storybooks and through mirrors, blast off to the moon and travel back to the dinosaur age, and roll himself into any shape he chose. What kid didn’t want to be Gumby?! Over 40 years later the delightful mix of innocence, ima… More >>

5 Responsed To This Post

Man, this DVD box set rules! I’m HAPPY they put the 80s synth soundtrack on the episodes because guess what- that’s the version I grew up with when I was a kid in the 80s. This set is so cool, and I’m so thankful. The only downer is that with the packaging- you’ve kinda gotta juggle the darn thingto get to some of the DVDs, it folds out all the way across my arm and then UP! Oh well, still a very cool collection. Intvw with the guy who voiced Gumby is awesome.
Rating: 5 / 5

This Gumby boxed set was really well done. I love it. It starts with the first gumby episode in 1956 and goes in order of production all the way to 1968. It’s awsome to see the transition of styles through the years. My two kids are really enjoying it also. They keep watching till I turn it off. For me, the best part was the 7th disc with the art films. They are mind blowing. I give it a 5 star rating out of 5. Of course, I’m a Gumby fan, but it really is great to have all of these great episodes in one package. Rick Stephens
Rating: 5 / 5

I have fond memories of Gumby being in syndication on independent stations during my 1970’s childhood. Almost all the Gumby episodes of the ’50’s and ’60’s are here on this 7 disc box set. Curious as to how comprehensive this collection is, I did some research on the internet, and found that only a mere handful of episodes from around 1967 are not included. I assume these will eventually be released in a future collection. The half hour episodes, with Gumby’s sister Minga, from around 1988 are not included in this collection with the exception of one episode on the “bonus disc” which showcases a live action comedy short about plumbers and a runaway bathtub. …I too would have preferred the original period music over the score created for the 1980’s syndication market as the former seems to fit the time period on which this box set is focused. … I’m going to be a lot more charitable towards this collection and give it four stars as the inclusion of Clokey rarities as Gumbasia and Mandala on the bonus disc greatly outweighs my reservations over the revised score and besides we finally have a Gumby collection, and a nearly exhaustive one at that, on DVD. I would give it five stars if they would at least put that 60’s theme referred to earlier on that bonus disc with the other old bumpers.
Rating: 4 / 5

Negative reviews of this box complain about the “new” musical soundtrack (still thirty years + old, but not the original) and bumpers, but this is an excellent hunk of Gumby. Not the perfect package for reliving childhood memories (if you’re old enough to have seen the original broadcasts) but perfectly adequate for showing today’s kids and entertaining them hugely. The sly square/hip wit is still intact, and the synthesizer score is not nearly as bad as it could be. The material itself holds considerable charms, especially when the characters shut up and surreal events unfold. If you can find this package for a reasonable price and want your claymation in a super-size party-pack, go for it.
Rating: 4 / 5

Here it is! All the Gumby episodes packed into one collection. It is great to be able to watch all the episodes of Gumby, and they are even in chronological order. However, the set could have been put together way better. It receives four stars because it is a Gumby box set, the first time all the episodes were put together like this. Here are some notes on the features of the set:

The Soundtrack: This is a partially annoying part of the set. They used the synth track made in the 80s for the episodes. I have many VHS sets made by F.H.E. and they used the original soundtracks. So, its not as if the original sound was lost or anything like that. However, Gumby’s voice is done by the same person and the rest of the voices are done well enough.

Episodes: I hate the way the episodes are cut up into different parts. The original 22 episodes were 12 minutes in lenght and then cut up to make 44 6 minute episoeds. This is not done by Rhino, but was done by the studio way back when. I have no idea why they did it, but it is annoying.

Packaging: The DVDs do fold out in an awkward way. I like it though because it is different and makes it unique. The set also comes with a Gumby figurine.

Special Features: There are several of Clokey’s original clay featuers that are cool to watch. The interview with Clokey himself, however, is very boring. The interview with the voice of Gumby is better. It almost seems as though the voice of Gumby likes the series more than the one who created it.

Bad points: The menus and navigation in the set is very annoying. The Rhino introduction is retarded. Between each episode there is an introduction to the next one. The intros are repetetive and really stupid. I don’t like the new gumby song that plays during the menus. I hate the children singing it. The navigation is so overly childish that I think even children would be annoyed by it.

Overall Value: The value of having all these gumby episodes availible in this way makes this set worth everything. The packaging and presentation could have been way better and I have no idea why they chose to go with the soundtrack that they went with. Maybe they thought modern children would enjoy it more. Who knows?
Rating: 4 / 5